| |
I spent the rest of the day with Casteel and a tied-up Nathanial in the royal quarters above the dungeon. The paintings of war had caught Casteel’s eye as he walked along the life-like paintings taking in the details of the Lycoshian and Zinnerians in battle with the Ananaki.
“There’s so much detail here.” Casteel’s voice was filled with awe as he hesitated with his fingers hovering over a wolf-like beast with snarling teeth. “It’s so surreal to see these images again.”
“Yes, very good, now focus. What about now?” I strutted towards Casteel. I had spent the last two hours trying to get this meat suit right; my heavy boots seemed clumsy to me, my balance felt off. I looked down at my meaty vein-stricken hands.
Casteel turned to me, crossing his arms. “Your posture is off.” He cocked his head. “And the nose is all wrong.”
I groaned in frustration, then looked down at the tied-up Nathanial and squatted, taking in the slight arch in his nose; he seemed to flinch at my closeness. “Get up and walk.”
“Why would I help you?” he spat. “Padma will never take you for me; he’ll know; he’ll see right through this.”
“Nathanial, I will literally peel your skin off and wear it as a suit if I have to.” My deep voice sent a shiver down my own spine. “You decide.”
He struggled to get on his feet with his hands tied behind his back, but he managed. He stood before me at the same height now. I concentrated my energy on getting the exact same arch of the nose as I felt my skin tingle. I paced around him, taking in the straight strength of his back as he held his head high. I pushed my hips forward, mimicking the posture and squaring my shoulders. “Do you greet Padma by his name, or do you call him mummy?” It was a bizarre feeling hearing my own voice as Nathanial’s.
Nathanial’s eyes narrowed towards me with an ugly smirk, the split flesh under his eye now a nasty yellow putty of mucus; it would be a pity if he died from such a measly infection.
“Why bother to ask?” he cocked his head. “You say the wrong thing to Padma, and he’ll know straight away you’re an imposter... I mean, look at you, this isn’t going to work.” A harsh laugh fell from his lips.
I mimicked the laugh and the way his head fell back slightly. Nathanial stopped abruptly, Hearing his own voice echoing. Every word I coaxed out of him was giving me a better insight. I needed him to keep talking, keep showing his nature as I studied his every gesture.
I looked behind me to Casteel as he seemed to be lost in the artworks along the wall; he was looking at the depiction of the wedding between the Lycoshian and Zinnerian. Her long flowing black dress was decorated in intricate lacework. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Nathanial.
“Have you had fun pretending to be king, Nathanial? Did it make you feel like a big man to deceive me and slit my throat when I was already wounded?” The prickling at my fingertips intensified as I wished I could simply kill the vile man before me.
“It felt pretty good, yes.” A smirk pulled at his lips as I imitated it. “I couldn’t tolerate your self-pitying bull shit any longer.”
“Well, unfortunately for you, I’m still here, and we both know Kronos would have slaughtered you had you challenged him first.” I let his smug smile fill my lips. “You’re a coward.”
“He would have.” Nathanial shrugged his shoulders as I mentally noted the gesture. “I’m not stupid. There’s a reason I let you live that long, a reason I captivated your heart.” His voice was stone cold. “It’s pathetic you thought someone like me could ever care for someone like you.” He cocked his head as the blue in his eyes seemed to blaze intensely.
I was mentally noting every move this asshole made.
“What’s pathetic, Nathanial,” I let my eyes blaze with the same intensity as I cocked my head. “Is that you think you’ll somehow make it out of this alive.” I threw my head back, slightly mimicking his cold laugh.
Nathanial glared at me in anger, if looks could kill... well...
“Padma has been planning his vengeance for hundreds of years. Do you honestly think your last-minute plan is going to change anything?” Nathanial squared his shoulders beefing up his chest. “You’re even stupider than I had believed, which is saying a lot.”
I squared my shoulders, beefing up my chest as he had done, then I threw my head forward in a nasty head butt to his nose. Nathanial landed on his ass, blood gushing starkly against the pristine white tiles. “Fucking bitch.” He groaned as he struggled to sit back on his ass without the use of his hands.
“Have you ever heard the saying sticks and stones?”
I looked at Casteel as he stood arms crossed next to the painted wall. I wiped the excess blood from my forehead as Rak opened the dungeon door. He stood with his eyebrows furrowed, staring from Nathanial to me, then back to Nathanial, then to me. I squared my shoulders, letting the smug smile grace my face.
“It’s quite a good imitation.” Rak stepped further towards me in the room. “I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.” He hushed in awe.
“Yes, but can his birtha tell the difference? That is the question.” Casteel finally left the painted wall to take a seat in a plush leather chair.
“Of course, Padma will know the difference!” Nathanial spat from the tiled floor.
“No, he won’t.” I squared my shoulders as I paced forward. “All I have to do is be an angry, smug asshole.” I cocked my head and shrugged my shoulders slightly.
Casteel nodded his head as he placed a boot over his knee. “It’s believable.”
“It is, master.” Rak dipped his head. “The battalion leaders have been locked in the cages as you requested; the Elderman and his man have been armed and placed on guard. The other fellow crew and I will take shifts with your permission... I would also like your permission to have all the soldiers dressed in the black and gold Storm Guard uniform.”
I furrowed my brow. “Why’s that?”
“Padma will arrive tomorrow; I think it best that Hell’s army blend in discreetly with the Zinnerian causing no alarm.” His brown eyes locked onto mine. “Permission to speak frankly, but Hell’s army has never been treated so well... we have been fed, bathed, and given comfortable living quarters. I believe Hell’s army would be happy to be unified with the Zinnerian as long as the input from the battalion leaders stays null and void.”
That was the issue, wasn’t it? The battalion leaders... Scallion. If they could get out of those cages, they would gladly run home to Lucifer with my head. If I were heartless, I’d kill them now... take their lives before they could formulate some plan to take back their battalions and slaughter my own army, but exactly how valuable were they to Lucifer? That was the question; without them, the battalions would cease to work without such expertise.
“You have my permission, Rak.” I lifted my palm, examined the fat veiny hand, and tensed; it was like wearing another’s skin; it felt off-putting to my core, unnatural. Suddenly it was too hot. I wiped my forehead with the back of my sleeve; how long would I need to keep this suit on tomorrow?
“But there’s something else I need you to do for me. Make sure Lolah has checked on Mirabeth as I requested; I haven’t seen her since this morning.”
“Yes, my queen.” Rak was off, his golden chest plate sticking out proudly with a purpose. I liked Rak. I glared as he shut the carved wooden door behind him. I should give him some sort of raise for doing so well under my reign.
“See, you can’t be doing that.” Casteel chimed from the couch; my eyes turned to lock onto his bright green ones. “That kind look that just came into your eyes, that wasn’t him.” His eyes looked to Nathanial crouched on the floor. “Keep practicing. You need this perfect for tomorrow, Elisse.”
“I’m working on it.” I rolled my eyes as my thick heavy legs paced towards Nathanial. “I want to know everything.” I came to crouch before him, my knees cracking in the process. “And now’s not the time to hold back.” I materialized my curved blade and held it above the pussy wound on his cheek in warning.
Nathanial swallowed, looking from the blade to the mirror of his own eyes that stood before him. “Okay.”
––––––––
I woke up the next morning with the heavy feeling of dread sunk to the pit of my stomach. I sat up looking at my bedside table and the flecked opal crown that sat on its plush purple pillow, the many swords and blades pointed high to the roof. There was so much blood coursing through that crown, so many lives had been taken to continue its descent down the family tree, continuously chopping down the head of the tree to bloom a new stem, was all of this worth it... did it have to be this way.
I jumped out of bed, pacing to the window, glaring at the soft morning sun slowly peeking its way over the turquoise hillside. The sweet smell of the flowers in the garden below made their way through the open window carried on the morning breeze. Enjoy the little things. I took in a deep breath embracing the soft warmth of the sun. Who knew how many of these moments I had left?
I showered in the en suite, feeling numb to the extravagant golden knobs and engraved white tiles with flora. Padma would arrive today and hopefully Luthigo with him. I let the hot water scald my scalp as I leaned back into the water. All I had to do was make sure I pulled off Nathanial’s character flawlessly, splitting Padma up from his priests. I trailed my fingers through my wet hair taking in the godforsaken sigils my mother had left on my arms. Luthigo would know what these meant. If not, hopefully, Havar. I didn’t trust anyone enough to tell them about my mother being an elder god. It was bad enough I carried the dragon markings. I was already seen as unnatural in the balance of things; I didn’t need to make myself an even bigger target to those I didn’t trust.
I stepped onto the cold white tiles and dried myself with the black and gold towel. Divide and conquer was the plan, then Luthigo would be safely out of harm’s way when I slit Nathanial’s throat.
I stepped back into the large bedroom and snapped my fingers, manifesting a black skin-tight bodysuit with golden pins at my shoulders and combat boots to match. I turned to the black opal speckled crown on the purple pillow. I unraveled the towel from my head and let it fall to the floor, I snapped my fingers, and my hair was in one nice long braid.
I placed the heavy weight of the crown on my head, sitting nicely over my long braid that trailed down my back, the weight of the crown feeling heavier today than it had previously. I was the lamb luring the lions into the den. I was the one undercover and in close proximity to possibly the most powerful being in this galaxy. If I failed tonight, it could be my last ever failure.
There was no Luthigo, Vato, or Neon to have my back this time; no Judgementals or council to offer a fair playing field. This was war, and how I decided to move my chess piece tonight would determine if I woke up tomorrow, or if Padma did, I had to move with absolute precision; there was no room for error.
I paced towards my bedroom door, opening it to my royal chambers. I looked around the empty room taking in the paintings of war and bloodshed that were decorated along the wall with the most intricate detail. Would this be how I lived my life if I survived alone? In this great big extravagant kingdom, would Luthigo visit me often? Would I be able to visit him below?
I rolled my neck, already aching with tension, and paced along the tiled floor, my boots the only noise to my ears as I gripped the carved wooden door handle entering the hall. Two Zinnerian Storm soldiers bowed their heads to me in greeting as they stood guard outside the chambers.
I tipped my head to the men making my way to the dining hall. Rak must have put them on duty. Is this what I had craved for all along? To belong in this world? Why did it feel hollow all of a sudden when all I had ever done was crave a place where I was accepted, loved, cared for? Perhaps I had been wrong; perhaps the weight that fell on my shoulders was not worth the cost, the responsibility, the games I seemed to have to play in order to protect what I had only held for such a short time.
No, that was wrong. This is what I wanted, a place to belong, one where food wasn’t a scarcity, a home where I was not abused or tormented, a home I belonged to. I took a deep breath; I needed to get my head in the game. I trailed my fingers along the wall of the corridor. I lifted my fingers, rubbing them together. There wasn’t so much as even a speck of dust on them. I pushed open the dining room doors to find my crew standing at attention adorned in the black and gold Zinnerian uniform, all except for Casteel, who stood slouching against the wall in his tan khakis and black shirt, the green in his eyes vibrant with anticipation.
“Our queen.” Rak tipped his head as the crew mimicked the greeting.
I smiled softly as I gripped the back of the chair at the head of the table, pulling it out. “Please sit.” I looked to the mound of fruit and sweet tarts piled on the table, and my mouth slowly watered. “You can start breakfast without me, you know... I would not find it an insult; this just seems so... formal.” I grabbed a flaky tart with an array of blackberries piled on top.
“Does it make you uncomfortable, Elisse?” Casteel leaned into the table, piling his plate with an array of fruits. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
My eyes locked onto Casteel’s vibrant green ones; if his mouth didn’t constantly dribble shit, I’d actually think he was somewhat attractive. “That’s not what I meant, Casteel.” I picked up my tart, letting the buttery crumb fall apart in my mouth.
“She’s just not used to the formality; that is what our queen meant.” Lolah looked at me, nodding her head as if she understood the feeling. “Mirabeth is well, and in good health; she’s re-joining her family in the silk stall today. She wishes to stay with them for a while; she sends her thanks.” She brought a slice of melon to her lips.
“Good.” I was glad Mirabeth would be staying with her family, not spending time in the kitchen traumatized by her encounter with Nathanial.
“It is something you must get used to as our queen.” Rak stared questionably at the slice of black melon in his hands. “The formality from not just us but all under your reign.”
I sighed. He was right. If they wanted to stand at attention till I came to breakfast, then so be it. “Forget I said anything.” I bit into the blackberries in the tart that carried a slightly sour after taste.
“What time are we expecting Padma, my queen?” Rak sank his mouth into the black melon letting the juices flow down his hand; he raised his eyebrows approvingly with the fruit.
I stifled the moan of ecstasy that wanted to spill out of my mouth from the buttery center of the tart. “Dusk.” I locked eyes with Rak. “According to Nathanial.”
“What’s the plan?” Dracon bit eagerly into a tart with lashings of some yellow-looking cream on top.
I finished the last of my tart that tasted heavenly and brushed the crumbs from my fingers onto the gold-rimmed plate. “We split up Padma and the priests; they’re too dangerous to have together.” I stared around at my crew that sat at my table, hoping I could trust them with my life.
“Rak will remain by my side as the king’s guard; the rest of you will remain in my chambers. I’ll be leading the priests directly to you. Rak will organize some enforcers to be with you as well.” We would need those that can manifest as well as those that can fight against the ancient brotherhood.
I stared at Casteel. “You will need to remain out of sight, obviously; Padma knows who you are; I want you in charge of the army. You’re to stay stationed in the arena should things go south.”
I stared at Lolah and Dracon. “You will play the part as Zinnerian soldiers showcasing the new sacrifices to the priests. You obviously need to detain the priests however you see fit, keep them out of the way while I deal with Padma.”
“And how are you going to deal with Padma? You’re just going to handle him by yourself?” Casteel quipped, crossing his arms at the table. “You can’t take him on by yourself. Hell, not even Vaneer stood a chance!”
That heavy feeling of dread sank to the pit of my stomach, but I had to do this. I had to get Luthigo free from his grips and out of the way.
“The queen is capable of making her own decisions,” Lolah snapped. “She obviously has a plan.” Her black hair bobbed as she nodded her head towards me.
I nodded back in agreement, even though I didn’t have a plan. That part was going to be improvised.
Casteel pressed his back into the chair unconvinced but let it go. “Luthigo will be by Padma’s side, yes?”
“I am hoping so, but if he is not, I’ll be detaining Padma.” I eyed off another succulent-looking tart on the table. “You’re raiding their ship, Casteel.” I picked up the tart covered in lashings of yellow cream. “Take as many soldiers as you need from the arena. If Luthigo isn’t with Padma, he may be on their craft. You’ll be seizing any other men that come with them. I don’t need any unexpected enemies out in their ship lying in wait.”
I bit into the gooey custardy tart that carried a slight ginger taste. How many of these delicious treats did I have left to enjoy in this lifetime? The buttery base melted in my mouth, making me drool.
“Why is it always me risking my arse?” Casteel tussled with the napkin in his hands with frustration.
“We are all risking our arses.” Dracon’s deep voice stated flatly.
Wasn’t that the truth?
A knock at the wooden door had everyone pausing in their meal. Rak stood at attention with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“It’s just me, your highness.” Henry walked in, dipping his head, his purple robes sashaying around his hips. “No need to get up.” His wrist flicked to Rak. “I have more information for you.” His elongated eyes darted around the breakfast table in distaste of the soldiers of Hell.
“Information regarding the brotherhood?”
His long red hair swayed as he nodded his head. “Could I have a moment of your time?”
“I have informed Junipa before that a meeting must be made through me.” Rak huffed, annoyed. “Have you made a meeting with me?” Rak’s eyebrows raised. “No, you haven’t.”
“I don’t report to you.” Henry flicked his hair turning to me.
“It’s fine, Rak.” I stood from my chair, placing my hand on Rak’s shoulder as I passed. “I asked him to do something for me yesterday.”
“Even still...”
“It’s fine,” I stated, cutting him off and gesturing for Henry to go back out the doors.
I followed behind him as we paced down the corridor with teal palms. He stopped abruptly, looking up and down the corridor making sure we were alone. “The other members of the council are sleeping; I kept them up all night rummaging through the sealed archives.”
I stared at the slightly dark bags under his orange eyes as he pulled back one side of his robe, pulling out a script of paper folded with the utmost care.
“That stone you spoke of in the meeting yesterday, I did some digging, and if I’m correct, that stone is the stone of Hiriath. It is said the elder gods destroyed them all when they went to war with the pagan gods. I have no idea how Padma could get his hands on a stone like that.” His fingers ran through his hair, puzzled.
“Maybe through an underground mine on planet Sibyl?”
“Planet Sibyl?” Henry looked at me perplexed. “They still worship the elder gods there, don’t they?”
I nodded. “They do.”
“I suppose if the elder gods wished to hide one of the stones from the pagan gods, it would make sense to hide it there.” He shook his head as if trying to clear it.
I looked at the piece of paper in his hand. “Why was the stone of Hiriath destroyed, Henry?”
“There were once many stones of Hiriath from what I can gather in the texts, but they were meant to have been destroyed by the elder gods.” Henry took a panicky breath. “They take away free will, your highness. The power is pretty much untapped, but it can be amplified as well with the right energy; it is said the stone was created by a Valkyrie’s tears as she died. Their last true power was forming a stone with abilities to destroy armies... worlds.”
“A Valkyrie’s tear?” I furrowed my brow.
“Do you know nothing of this world, of the gods old and new?” Henry looked at me in frustration.
“Well, I’ve been kind of busy.” I huffed. “Constantly trying to stay alive hasn’t left me much time to brush up on the world I never knew existed a year ago.”
“Right, of course, of course.” Henry nodded to himself. “I forget you’re not from Zinneria.” He looked at me puzzled for a second before continuing. “You need to destroy the stone. This stone in Padma’s hands could crumble all of civilization as we know it.”
“How is he taking immortality, Henry?”
“That is the ancient brotherhoods doing. They’ve blessed Padma with that power, but these things always come at a cost, and what a cost to have to pay for a power like that.” He shook his head as if shaking the thought. “But that power is not the stone.” He unfolded the piece of yellow paper gently as his hands trembled.
This man definitely needed some sleep. Had he had too much caffeine through the night? Did they even have caffeine here?
“The stone can’t control those with divine blood, those like Lucifer and Luthigo— Casteel even, but the brotherhood themselves are ancient, their line containing magic beyond this world, they are powerful and still dangerous to those of divine blood.” Henry’s face scrunched in distaste. “It had to be the reason for the rituals. They must be growing the stone’s powers by sacrificing the unwilling, feeding the stone with the energy emitted with fear, death.”
“It has the capability to control and destroy everything it sheds light upon, your highness. It takes away one’s free will. To break it, you must sacrifice something willing, something pure. It’s the only way the stone can be destroyed, for that power in it to be reversed and used on itself.”
“Sacrifice something willing and pure?” I said, exasperated. “Then how did the elder gods destroy it if they needed to sacrifice something willing and pure?” This was bullshit. Did I need to sacrifice a baby goat?
“The goddess Theia, the goddess of foreseen sight and precious jewels and gems, was the elder god tasked with destroying the stones.” He shook his head. “And there’s no chance of contacting her, so something willing and pure will just have to do.”
I raised my brows. You’ve got to be kidding me, the goddess Theia of divine sight and dominion over precious metal and gems. Of course, this had to be her lack of competence that I was going to have to clean up. My goddess mother was really tacking up a debt.
Henry palmed the yellow paper into my hand. “These are the words that must be said during the sacrifice.”
I looked down at the fancy script writing.
De sanguine puro posui valkyrios dilaniare gratis destruens te.
––––––––
My heavy boots paced back and forth in my chambers along the tiled floor. I had spent the last few hours racking my brain over the information Henry had given me. Padma had the power to take immortality blessed upon him by the brotherhood, but it had come at a cost. But what was the cost exactly? I shook my head, going back to the here and now. My plan was to lure them all in, divide them up, free Luthigo, and kill them before this prophecy of war came to fruition.
Why was it so hot this afternoon? I fanned my face with my vein-stricken hand; I had to get this facade perfect. There could be no room for error while I was wearing this second skin.
“That looks very unnatural.” Casteel glanced at me from the corner of his eye as he paced in front of the painted wall.
“The horn will sound once he arrives, my queen.” Rak stood at attention near the carved doors. “You can rest... you look exactly like him.”
“No, she doesn’t.” Nathanial spat from the floor, the wound on his cheek a dirty green from infection. He should have healed by now. Clearly, the cage he’d been sleeping in was unsanitary. “She looks nothing like me, and once Padma gets here, he’ll rip her and all of you to shreds!”
“Why are you still breathing?” Lolah mumbled from the couch, her feet tucked in beneath her as she picked at her fingernails.
That was an excellent question. I pinched my forehead with my fingers, trying to relieve some tension.
“Because if Luthigo isn’t here.” Casteel paced along the painted wall of Lycans and Zinnerians. “We’ll need him to bargain with.” His green eyes landed on me. “I’m heading to the arena to prepare the men for the raid... Good luck.” He tipped his head and headed for the door.
“That’s a shame.” Dracon toyed with a knife between his fingers, glaring down at Nathanial.
“It is...” my deep voice startled me for a second. “But he’ll be dead soon enough.” I looked down at Nathanial’s wrists, the color of plums. Maybe I’d get lucky, and his hands would drop off while I stood here.
A harsh laugh burst from Nathanial. “You are all going to die. You are insane to think that that could pass as me.” His mouth sneered in disgust. “But by all means, carry on with your plan of self-suicide.”
I looked down at Nathanial as my fingertips prickled with the temptation to kill him. Perhaps even strip his skin back and watch as he screamed... I shook the image from my mind.
Not yet... patience, it would come.
The horn sounded throughout the kingdom, making the hairs on my arm stand on edge. I looked down at Nathanial as his eyes widened in delight. I narrowed my eyes at him, one of us was going to die soon, and it wasn’t going to be me.
I looked at Lolah and Dracon as they stood dressed in the Zinnerian Storm Guard uniform. “You are to kill the priests but give me enough time to get Padma out of ears reach first.”
“Got it” Dracon nodded.
“And have Nathanial put back in the dungeon.”
“With pleasure.” Lolah smiled a little too eagerly.
I looked over the Zinnerian enforcers who stood at attention at the back wall; they hadn’t uttered a word since they arrived here with Rak earlier. He had assured me they were the best in the army. I nodded my head to the men. “This is the ancient brotherhood you’re dealing with; their magic is not like our manifestation. Prepare yourselves.”
I turned on my heel as Rak came to my side. This had to look authentic, and he had to take the lead. I turned back to my crew and nodded in fair well as they all stood at attention in the black and gold uniform of my Storm Guards. This was it. SHOWTIME!